Rail anchor



June 16, 1925.

. 1,542,042 P. H. DONOVAN ET AL RAIL ANCHOR Original Filed Oct. 22, 19232 Sheets-Sheet 1 v June 16, 1925. 1,542,042

P. H. DONOVAN ET AL RAIL ANCHOR v 18a 7 u Inflelli rg @mlfl aw PatentedJune 16, 1925,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLINOIS, Assrenons r0 ann- IORATION or rumors.

PATRICK H. Donovan, or CHICAGO, Ann LAURENCE J. BERKELEY, or nvansron;

r & vr COMPANY, or CH 'Caao, iLLINoIs, A. COR- RAIL ALN'CHOR.

Application filed October 22, 192 3,teria11io. 670,020. RenewedSeptember 27, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VAN and LAURENCE J .BERKELEY, citizens of theUnited States, residing, respectively, at Chicago, inthe county of Cookand State of Illinois, and Evanston, lllinois, have invented. certainnew and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following is aspecification. 1

Our invention relates to rail anchors and particularly to the generaltype of anchors in which arigid member and a spring bar cooperate toembrace the base of the rail and are maintained in their operativeposition on the rail by spring pressure produced by distorting thespring bar during its ap plication.

One of the objects of the invention 18 to provide animproved anchor ofthe above general character 'in which the spring bar is so positionedbetween the rail base and a part of the rigid member as to efi'ectafirmpositive grip on the rail when the. rail is subjected to a force tendingto move it -longitudinally. I it Another object is to provide an anchorof the above general type in which the gripping action of the device issoeffected as to permit a relatively light spring to be used and inwhich the spring is so formed as tor-increase its flexibility andthereby facilitate its application to the rail. andpermit a greaterrange of distortion than other types of springbars now in general usewithout sacrificing the resiliency required to maintain the anchor as awhole in its proper operative position.

Then invention has foi afurther object such other novel arrai'igemeutsconstructions and combinations of parts hereinafter describedandflclaimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such otherobjects as will appear in the following description.

The invention is illustrated in certain pre ferred embodiments in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a'front view in elevation of atwopiece rail anchor device constructed in accordance with thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 1 are side and top views respectively of the spring barmember used in connection with the form of anchor shown in Figs. 1 and2.

PATRICK H, .DON O modified form of anchor, and

Fig. 7 is a side View of the modification illustrated in Fig. 6. Likecharacters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

Referring firstto Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings: 10 designatesa rigid member or shoe adapted to engage one edge of the rail base and11 a spring bar formed to maintain the rigid member in operativeposition and adapted to grip opposite edges of therail base 12. Therigid member is made, preferably of cast metal and is provided withupper and lower jaws 13 and 14, respectively, which are joined togetherby a vertical web 15 and fit over one edge of the rail base. A.depending flange 16 is formed at one. end of the jaw portion 10 toprovide a suitable abutment for bearing against one of thevertical'faces of a cross tie 17. A depending flange 18 is formed at theother end of the jaw portion and'is provided with a projection or arm 19which extends. longitudinally of the rail below the base 12, which armis formed with a notch 20 to provide a suitable seat for the spring bar11. The de pending flanges 16 and 18 are reenforced by a connecting web21. l i a l The spring bar 11 is formed at one end with a jaw portion 22having an angularly disposed lip 23 bent in adirection away from thecross tie and adapted to bear upon the upper surface of the rail base onthe side. of the rail opposite to that engaged by the rigid member 10.The body ofthe spring tapers in a direction towards the rigid member asshown by the reference numeral 2 1, to increase its flexibility, andterminates in an enlarged dovetail portion 25, which is disposed in anangular position between the lower edge of the rail base and theprojection 19 of the rigid member 10 so as to function as a togglewhenthe rail is subjected to creeping pressure. The edges ZGa-nd 27of'the enlarged portion 25 diverge from each other toward the end 7 .ofthe bar so that the edge engaging the the rail base. The lower edge ofsaid dovetailed portion projects below the seat portion of the notch 20and thereby prevents the spring from shifting in the direction or itslength transverselyot the rail and also prevents lateral movement oi therigid memher with relation to the rail. The spring member is normallyflat and is oi greater width than the distance between the projection 19and-the under surface of the rail base at the point engaging thesemembers, whereby it isnecessaryto cant the spring body topermitthedovetail portion to be positioned between the projection 19 andthe rail base. The torsioning-of thespring increases-thegr'ip ot' thejaw portion 22 on the rail and exerts sufiicientresilient pressureagainst the rigid member to resist any tendency that the vibration orthe rail or the movementof the device through the ballast of theroadbedmay have to loosen theinitial lioldo'fi the anchor on the rail.

In operation, the rigid 'member is fitted over one edge of then-ail in aposition to bear againsta cross tie. of the spring the other edge of therail and the body oi the spring twisted suiliciently to permit thedovetail portion 25 oi the spring tobe positioned between the rail baseand the projecti'on 19 oil the rigid member or shoe 10.

The aw portion The body portion of the spring intervening between itsdovetail and jaw portions being reduced in cross sectional areaincreases the flexibility of the spring and also due to its small areaof contact with the under suriaceot' the rail, prevents any rough spotsthat may be on' the under surface of the rail 't'roin interfering withthe proper'gripping engagement between the dovetail portions and therail base. The spring bar normally stands at right angles to the lengthof the rail but may be readily shifted to a position diagonally acrossthe-rail if such position is-required to accommodate rails having baseflanges of less'width than that shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 5 a modified construction is illustrated in which the upper edge26 of the enlargement 25 01 the spring 11 is formed parallel to thelower surface of the rail base so as to grip a larger area of the undersurface of the rail base than the form shown in'Figs. 1 to 4- inclusive.In other respects this modification may beand preferably is the same asthat shown in Figs. 1 to i in elusive-or the drawings.

In Figs. 6 and 7 another modified con,

struction is illustrated in which the rigidmember or shoe-consists oftwo flange mem bers each of which is formed with a recess 30* whichfit sover and engages with the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base. Theflanges :28 and 29 are secured together near their upper ends by meansof an anbar may then.- be hooked over gular jaw portion 31 which bearsagainst the uiper surface of the rail base. The vertical portion 32 ofthis jaw portion however stops short ot the lower edgeoii the rail baseso that it will not interfere withthe proper grip of the spring on thelower edge of the rail. The lower portions of the flanges 2S and 29 aresecured together by means of an integral arm 33 which in thismodification functions in the same manner as the arm or stud 19 in theFigs. 1 and 2.

The spring barmember as shown in' this modification may be the same aseither of the forms snown in Figs: 1 -0r 5. However, for'the purpose ofconvenience the spring bar shown in Figs. 1 toat inclusive is used inconnection withthis modification as a specific illustration and has beengiven corresponding-referencenumerals with the ex ponent b.

In operation the jaw end 22 of the spring bar ll is first hooked overone edge oi the rail basewith the body of the bar extending;transversely out the rail. Suitable applying tongs (not shown) may thenbe extended through the opening 3450f the rigid men:- ber a distancesnilicient'to grasp thedovei 'il portion 25 of the spring bar may thenbe torsioned' sutliciently to permit the dovetail portion 25 to passthrough the opening 34: of the rigid member, the spring may then'bereleased, whereupon the inclined upper an'd'lower edges 26 27" will beforced into engagement with the lower corner oi the rail base and withthe arm 3; and held in such engagement by means of the torsion to whichthe spring has been sub jected. Wh'en the rail tends to move in thedirection toward thetie the creeping movement tends'to move the portion25 oi the spring member toward a vertical position whereby theportion'25 becomes tightly cramped between the rail base and the arm 33.

While the invention herein has been shown in certain specificembodiments in which the flexibility of the sp'ringis increased by re(lucing the widthof'thc spring, it will be obvious-that the flexibilityof the spring may be increased in other ways than illustrated thereinand that the various other featuresv of the invention might beaccomplished by modified structure. It should theretorebe understoodthat this invention contemplates all such modifications in structure ascome within the scope of the appended claims.

We' claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a jaw member for engaging one edge'ot. arail baseand a toggle member interposed between the rail and the jawmember to effect a toggle grip on the rail during the presence oicreeping pressure.

A rail anchor comprising a jaw membar. The sprin lit her for engagingone edge of a rail base and a toggle member provided with means forengaging the other edge of the rail and in terposed between the rail andthe jaw member to effect a toggle grip on the'rail during the presenceof creeping pressure.

3. A rail anchor comprising a jaw mem her for engaging one edge of arail base and a bar provided at one end with a jaw portion forengagingthe other edge oi said base and at the other end with a togglepor tion adapted to be interposed between the rail and said jaw member,whereby toggle pressure is exerted against the rail during the presenceof creeping pressure on the rail. j

l. 'A rail anchor Comprising a 'aw member for engaging one edge of arail base and a bar provided at one end with ajaw portion for engagingthe other edge of said base and at the other end with a toggle portionadapted to be interposed between the lower edge of the rail base andaportionon: said jaw member, whereby toggle pressure is exerted againstthe rail during the presence of creepingpressure. j

5. A rail anchor comprising a rigid member formed to engage one edge ofthe rail base and to engage with a cross tie and a bar provided atoneend with a jaw portion for engaging the other edge of "said base andat.

the other end with a toggle portion adapted to be interposed between thelower edge of the railbase'and a portion on said rigid n'teniber,whereby toggle pressure is exerted against the rail during the presenceof creeping pressure. h

6; A rail anchor "comprising a rigid member formed with a jaw portionfor engaging one edge of the rail base and a spring bar formed at oneend with a aw for engaging the other edge of said base and with a toggleportion adapted to be positioned between a portion on the rigid memberand the uncer surt'ace of therail base; the'body portion of the springbar intervening between its jaw and said toggle portion being adapted tobe torsioned during the application of the spring to its operativeposition to effect a spring grip of its jaw on the rail.

7. A rail anchor comprising a rigid memher for engaging one edge of arail base and formed with a projection extending longitudinally of therail and with a portion for abutting against a crossrtie, and a springbar adapted to engage opposite edges 'Oi'lll'l rail base; one end ofsaid spring bar being supported in an angular position between saidprojection and the rail base toefi'ect a toggle grip on the rail duringthe pres ence oi a creeping pressure.

8. A rail anchor comprising a rigid member for engaging one edge of therail base and formed with a projection extendi? longitudinally of therail below the base thereof and with a tie abutting portion, and aspring bar formed at one end with a aw for engaging one edge of the railbase and at the other end with a toggle portion adapted to be supportedon said projection and in engagement with the rail base to etl'ect atoggle grip on the rail, which toggle portion is ofgreater width thanthe distance between said projection and the rail base, whereby cantingoi" the spring is required to permit application of said toggle erativeposition.

9. A rail anchor comprising a rigid memher for engaging one edge oil? arail base portion toits opand formed with a projection extending tionand the rail base, whereby canting oi? the spring is required to permitapplication of said toggle portion to its operative position, and aportion of the spring being relatively flexible to facilitate saidcanting.

10. A rail anchor comprising a rigid member for engaging one edge of therail base and formed with a projection extend ing longitudinally of therail below the base thereof and with a tie abutting portion, and aspring bar formed at one end with a jaw for-engaging one edge of therail base and at the other end with a toggle portion adapted to besupported on said projection and in engagement with the rail base toe'lifect a toggle grip on the rail; said toggle portion beingrelatively'stii l and of greater width than the distance between saidpro= jection and the rail base, whereby twisting of the spring isrequired to permit the application of said toggle portion to itsoperative position, and a portion of the spring being relativelyflexible to facilitate this twisting of the spring.

11. A ra'il anchor comprising a shoe for engaging one edge of a rail anda toggle formed at one end with a portion cooperating with said shoetolet'fect a toggle grip on the rail and formed at the other end with ajaw for engaging the other edge of the rail with spring pressure.

12. A rail anchor comprising a shoe for engaging one edge of the railand formed with a projection, and a spring toggle formed at one end witha'portion adapted to be supported in an angular position on said"projection to effect a toggle grip on the rail and formed at the otherend with a jaw for engaging the other edge of the rail with springpressure.

iii)

18. A rail anchor comprising a shoe for cnga 'ing one edge of the railand formed with a projection, and a spring toggle termed at one end witha portion of greater width than the distance between said projection andthe rail base and adapted to be supported in an angular position on saidprojection to ettect a toggle grip on the rail and formed at the otherend with a jaw tor engaging the other edge of the rail with springpressure.

14. A rail anchor comprising a shoe for engagin one edge of the rail andformed with a projection, and Ya spring toggle formed at one end with aportion of greater width than the distance between said projeetion andthe rail base and adapted to he supported in an angular position on saidprojection to ettect a toggle grip on the rail and formed at the otherend with a jaw for engaging the other edge of the rail with springpressure; the portion of said toggle engaging said projection beinginclined downwardly and outwardly to provide :an interlocking engagementwith said shoe member.

15. A rail anchor comprising a tie abutting member tormed to engage oneedge 01 a rail and provided with a projection extending longitudinallyof the rail and a spring bar formed at one end with greater widththanthe distance between the pro jecti on and the rail, adapted to besupported in position on said projection to eli'ect a toggle grip on therail during the presence of creeping pressure, and provided at the otherend with a jaw for en aging the other edge of the rail base; the portionof the spring bar between the rail engaging portions thereof being ofgreater flexibility than the ends and adapted to be subjected to atorsional strain to permit the application of said toggle grippingportion to its operative position.

16. A rail anchor comprising a tie abutting member formed to engage voneedge of the rail and provided with a projection extending longitudinallyof the rail, and spring bar formed at one end with an ,enlargement ofgreater width than the distance between said proj .ction and the railadapted to be supported in position on said projection to e fi ect atoggle grip on the rail during the presence of a creeping pressure, andprovided at the other end with a jaw for engaging the other edge of therail base; the portion of the spring bar between said enlargement andsaid jaw being of greater flexibility than the ends and adapted to besubjected to a torsional strain to permit the application of the saidenlargement to its operative position.

17. A rail anchor comprisin a tie abutting member formed to engage oneedge of the rail and provided with a projection extending tendinglongitudinally of the rail, and a spring bar .to-rmedat one end with anenlargement oi greater width than the distance between the projectionand said rail, adapted tobe supported in position on said projection toeffect atoggle grip on the rail during the presence of creepingpressure, and provided at theother end with .a jaw for engaging theother edge of the rail base: the portion 01 thespring barbetween saidenlargement and said jaw being reduced in width to provide greaterflexibility than the ends and adapted to be subjected to a torsionalstrain to permit the application of said enlargement to an operativeposition.

18. A rail anchor comprising a tie abntting member formed to engage oneedge of the rail and provided with a projection extending longitudinallyof the rail, and a spring bar formedat one end with an enlargement ofgreater width than the distance between the projection and said rail,apted to be supported in position on said projection to effect a togglegrip on the rail during the presence of creeping pressure, and providedat the other end with a jaw for engaging the other edge of the railbase; the portion of the spring bar between said enlargement and saidjaw being reduced in width .to provide greater flexibility than the endsand adapted to be subjected to atorsional strain to permit theapplication of said enlargement to an operative position, and the upperedgeot said enlargement being tapered upwardly and outwardly so as toprevent movement of the bar transversely of the rail.

19. A rail anchor comprising tie abutting member :formed to engage oneedge of the rail and provided with a projection e2:-

longitudinallyof the rail, and a spring bar formed at one end with .anenlargement of greater width than the distance between the projectionand the rail, adapted to be supported in position on said projection-toefiect .atoggle grip on the rail during the presence of a creepingpressure, and provided .at the other end with a jaw for engaging theother edge of the rail base; the portion of the spring bar between saidenlargement and said jaw being reduced in width to provide greaterflexibility than the ends and adapted to be subjected to a torsionalstrain to permit'the application of said enlargement to its operativeposition, and the upper and lower edges of said enlargement divergingfrom each other to provide said spring with an interlocking engagementwith the projection on said shoe and with the adjacent edge of the rail.

20. A rail anchor comprising a shoe mcnr her for engaging one edge of arail and formed with a projection and a toggle formed at oneend with anenlarged portion adapted to assume a position between said allprojection and the under edge of'the rail base; the. upper edge of saidenlargement bein formed to orovide a horlzontal rail gripping edge andwith. a lower edge ex-N tending downwardly and outwardly to effect aninterlocking engagement between the spring bar and said shoe. a

21. A rail anchorcomprisinga rigid mem ber formed with a jaw portion forengaging one edge of a rail base and a spring bar formedat one end witha jaw for engaging the other edge of said base and with a toggle portionadapted to be positioned be tween a portion on the rigid member and theunder surface of said rail base; said body portion of the springintervening be tween its jaw and said toggle portion, being adapted tobe torsioned during the application of the spring to its operativeposition to effect a spring grip of its jaw on the rail and to exertspring pressure between the lower edge of the rail base and said rigidmember.

22. A rail anchor comprising a shoe member formed with two verticallydisposed flanges connected by an arm extending longitudinally of therail below the base and a spring bar adapted to extend through the spacebetween the lower edge of the rail base and said arm; the end of saidspring being of greater width than the distance between said arm and thelower edge of said base, whereby it is required to twist said spring topermit the end thereof to pass through the opening in said shoe.

23. A rail anchor comprising a shoe member adapted to engage one edge.of a rail base and formed with an arm extending longitudinally of therail below the base, and a spring yoke member formed with means forengaging one edgeof the rail base and with a portion supported by saidarm between said arm and rail base, which portion ofthe yoke is cantedto permit it to be positioned upon said arm.

24. A rail anchor comprising a shoe member adapted to engage one edge ofa rail base and formed with an arm extending longitudinally of the railbelow the base, and a spring yoke member formed with a jaw portion forengaging the opposite edge of the rail base and with a portion supported by said arm between said arm and rail base, which portion of the yokeis canted to permit it to be positioned upon said arm.

25. A rail anchor comprising a shoe member and a spring member whichtogether embrace the base of a rail and have an interlocking engagementwith each other; said shoe member being formed with a jaw for engagingone edge of the rail base and with an arm extending longitudinally ofthe rail below said base adapted to support one end of said springmember between said arm and the bottom surface of said rail; said springmember being provided at one end with a jaw'for engaging one edge of therail base and at the other end with a portion which normally extendsbelow the upper surface of said arm and being adapted to be canted toeffect a gripping engagement of said jaw on the rail base and to permitthe positioning .of'said portion upon said supporting arm.

26. A rail anchor comprising two rail gripping elements one of which hasa portion interposed in a diagonahposition between the railbase and theother element so that it is cramped therebetween to increase the grip ofthe device on the rail by the creeping movement of the rail.

27. A rail anchor comprising two rail gripping elements one of which hasa portion interposed in a diagonal position between the under surface ofthe rail base and the other element so that it is cramped therebetweento increase the grip of the device on the rail by the creeping movementof the rail. 7

28. In a rail anchor, the combination of a shoe to engage one edge of arail, and a torsion yoke, one end of which is formed with a jaw toengage one edge of the rail base and the other end of which is interposed between said shoe and rail base to bear against them with springpressure, whereby creeping movement of the rail decreases the torsionofsaid yoke and increases its grip on the rail.

29. In a rail anchor, the combination of a shoe to engage the edge of arail, and a torsion yoke, one end of which is foinned with a jaw toengage one edge of the rail base and the other end of which isinterposed in a diagonal position between said shoe and rail base, tobear against them with springpressnre whereby creeping movement of therail decreases the torsion of said yoke and increases its grip on therail base.

30. In a rail anchor, the combination of a shoe to engage one edge of arail base and a torsion spring yoke between the rail. and shoe in adiagonal. position so as to be moved toward a vertical position duringthe presence of creeping movement of the rail and the other end of whichis formed with a jaw to engage the other edge of the rail base.

31. In a rail anchor, the combination of ashoe and a yoke one end ofwhich is interposed diagonally between the shoe and the base of a railso that it is given a cramping movement between the rail and shoe by thecreeping movement of the rail and the other end of which is formed witha jaw to engage the other edge of said base.

32. In a rail anchor, the combination of a shoe and a torsion springyoke having an enlargement with diagonal edges positioned to exertspring pressure between the rail base andsaid shoe, whereby said shoeand yoke are engagedin gripping relation on the rail.

33. In a rail anchor, the combination of a shoe for engaging one edge ofa rail base and a spr ng yOkQiOYIDQCl at one end with a jaw or engagingthe other edge of said base and at the other end with means for engagingsaid shoe; said yoke beingnarrower at a point intermediate its endportions than at its ends.

PATRICK H. lDONOVAN. LAURENCE J. BERKELEY.

- portions.

